Rav Chaim zatzal on Siyums

Since there will be numerous siyumim this Friday, it is worthwhile to see what Maran Rav Chaim zatzal said about Siyumim, in general.

1. Can a siyum be made – just on Gemorah – without Rashi?

If he understands what he learned it is a siyum.  Abaya himself who (Shabbos 119a) said, regarding a siyum that he would make a “Yom Tov celebration for someone who makes a siyum” learned without Rashi.

• If a person just says over the shakal v’tarya of the Gemorah, but does so very precisely – is this enough for a siyum?

Not for Erev Pesach (and presumably not for the 9 days)

• If a child makes a siyum is it effective?

Why not?  This is a complete siyum! – Even for the Nine Days!

• If a person skipped a few lines is it still effective for a Siyum?

It is not like a sefer Torah. As long as one did not skip an entire Sugya.

• What about Meseches Sanhedrin, where the censor [in Europe] took out entire sections?

Ideally, he should learn the section that were censored.  This is what I do.  But bdieved, we can assume that since that is the form in which [mishamayim] it worked out that way, it would be okay.